PET scan guidance during surgery for high-grade brain tumors called gliomas
Looks at PET scan-guided surgery in adults with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: PET-Guided Resection in High-Grade Gliomas
Key facts
- Where
- Genova and Torino, ItalySee the 2 sites
Where in Italy
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera MetropolitanaGenova, ItalyTaking people
- AOU Città della Salute e della ScienzaTorino, ItalyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Universita degli Studi di Genova
- Trial code
- NCT07567196
- Record updated
- 5 May 2026
- Original description
Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis despite maximal treatment. Current evidence suggests that supramaximal resection, including non-enhancing FLAIR-hyperintense regions, improves survival. However, the extent of FLAIR resection is often limited by functional constraints and its non-specific nature, as it may represent both tumor infiltration and peritumoral edema. This study explores the role of 18F-DOPA PET in refining supramaximal resection by providing a more specific surgical target beyond contrast-enhancing areas.Read full original descriptionShow less
ResPGlioma: Impact of PET-Guided Resection on Survival in High-Grade Gliomas - A Multicenter Prospective Study
Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis despite maximal treatment. Current evidence suggests that supramaximal resection, including non-enhancing FLAIR-hyperintense regions, improves survival. However, the extent of FLAIR resection is often limited by functional constraints and its non-specific nature, as it may represent both tumor infiltration and peritumoral edema. This study explores the role of 18F-DOPA PET in refining supramaximal resection by providing a more specific surgical target beyond contrast-enhancing areas.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of 18F-DOPA PET-guided resection on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in GBM patients, by comparing outcomes between those undergoing PET-RM integrated resection versus conventional MRI-guided resection.
Methods: ResPGlioma is a multicenter, prospective, non-randomized study conducted at IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (Genoa) and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza (Turin). Patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial, high-grade gliomas undergo preoperative 18F-DOPA PET and MRI. Surgery follows the principle of maximal safe resection, with postoperative MRI at 48 hours assessing the extent of resection (EOR). To confirm PET resection or non-PET resection status, patients will undergo a postoperative 18F-DOPA PET scan at 30 ± 7 days following surgery, prior to the initiation of chemoradiotherapy. Patients are categorized based on EOR criteria (RANO) and PET volume resection (PET-resection vs. PET non-resection). Statistical analyses include Kaplan-Meier survival curves and regression models to identify prognostic factors.Patients are categorized based on EOR criteria (RANO) and PET volume resection (PET-resection vs. PET non-resection). Statistical analyses include Kaplan-Meier survival curves and regression models to identify prognostic factors.
Expected Outcomes: The authors hypothesize that PET-guided resection improves PFS and OS by enabling a more precise tumor removal beyond contrast-enhancing margins while preserving neurological function. Preliminary data support that PET hypercaptant areas contain viable tumor cells and should be resected. This approach may offer a more accessible yet effective alternative to FLAIR-guided supramaximal resection.
Inclusion: age ≥18 years; high-grade glioma (WHO grade III/IV) diagnosed on MRI; provide written informed consent.
Exclusion: Patients with medical conditions precluding MRI; secondary high-grade gliomas resulting from malignant transformation of a low-grade glioma; other primary malignancy within the past five years; tumors located in the cerebellum, brainstem, or midline; inability to provide written informed consent.